Apparatus for electric welding



March 11, 19300 J. HENDRIICKSQN APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC WELDING 2 $heets-Sheei. 1

Filed March 15 1926 12 HI IHM March 11, 1930. J. B. HENDRKIKSQN APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC WELDING Filed March 13 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o n no n Application filled time 18 limb Serial E0. Eldfiilll.

. This invention relates to welding and more particularly to an apparatus and method for preventing oxidation of material ady acent the portion which is being welded.

ln welding joints orthe like any oxidation to material or in other ways to weaken the welded joint- It is an object of my invention to rovide an improved. method and apparatus for excluding oxidizing substances, of which oxygen in the atmosphere is the most important. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to exclude the air from the immediate vicinity of the weld and to do so with the use of a suitable gas.

Other objects and advantages or my inven tion will be apparent from. the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a partial sectional view of welding equipment and one form of my improved apparatus associated therewith Fig. 2 is another form of apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a further modification; Fig. 4 is a further form of my invention wherein the weldingmaterial is coated with a suitable gas producing substance; I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing said substance placed on joints to be welded prior to the welding operation Fig. 6 is a further modification showing an inert and incombustible gas flowing downwardly and outwardly around the welding material.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention I have shown a usual part 1 of a welding head, of the electric type, from which projects a guiding tube 2 for welding material in the form of a rod 3. The welding material is adjusted by suitable means in relation to the seam f a tank wall 5 to be welded. While a fragment of a tank hasbeen shown, the invention is, of course, applicable toany other type of article to be welded. To exclude air w from .the welded joint there is provided means for enclosing the welding rod one form this means constitutes a top portion 6 having a flange held to the part 1 by a suitable clamp 7. The various elements are made of heat-resisting or incombustible material, although of such a nature as to conduct and radiate quickly any heat generated within the hood, thereby keeping the various welding elements as cool as possible. Suitable material 8 may be interposed between the flange and the part 1, which material may be asbestos or any other suitable insulating and pret erably leak-prooi material. A preferably cylindrical side9 secured to the top 6 has, preferably, removably secured thereto an apron attachment. This apron comprises a band 10 having a series of bayonet openings whereby the band may be removably secured to a series of pins ll carried by the side 9.

Secured to the band 10 is a piece of lea 7 proofing material 12, which may be of ashestos or other suitable material which will conform to any irregularities on the surface oi the tank 55. Preferably the lower edge of the member l2 will be cut to the general shape of the tank surface and due to the preferable flexibility oi the member 12the same will con-= form most exactly to the tank surface. Ac-

cordingly, air will be excluded, although by passing a gas through an inlet opening 13 the actual welding will be enclosed within this body of gas, which if subjected to a high enough pressure will be forced out underneath the lower edge ofthe member 12. The circulation of gas thus produced, for example, passing in the inlet 13 and out under the member 12 will insure a high degree of ex clusion of air and reduce to a minimum any possibility of air leaking in under the lower edge of member 12. The gases used might be. termed as inert in that they are inert as to being combustible in regard to their action towardiron, steel or other metal during weld ing. Such gases would be hydrogen and illuminating gases, although gases which are inert as far as bein incombustible in any way could also be use In order to watch the process of welding a suitable window 14 is provided in theside 9.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a modification 

